Steelcase
American
The Michigan-based furniture maker Steelcase has a long and distinguished history, but collectors focus on its vintage office furniture and desk chairs from the 1950s to the ’70s, when, along with such companies as Knoll and Herman Miller, the firm helped define the aesthetics of American mid-century modernism.
Steelcase was founded in Grand Rapids in 1912 as the Metal Office Furniture Company, promoting steel desks and other furnishings as safer, fireproof alternatives to wooden pieces at a time when smoking in the workplace was common. Boston’s first skyscraper — the 32-story Customs House — was furnished by the company in 1915. Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect and furniture designer whose work had a profound influence on the shape of modern life, turned to the firm in 1937 to fabricate the enameled metal chairs and desks for his Johnson Wax Headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin.
In the 1950s, when Steelcase formally adopted the name it still uses today, the company developed a sleek and functional style employing rectilinear chrome frames for glass-topped tables and upholstered seating pieces. The look is similar to that of the minimal, Bauhaus-inspired designs of Florence Knoll, another icon of furniture design who helped shape the ethos of the postwar business world.
By the 1970s, Steelcase had enlivened its styling, offering such pieces as chairs and side tables designed by Gardner Leaver, with circular bases and curving supports. As you will see on these pages, Steelcase designs offer a perfect foundation for a modernist decor, with a touch of flair.
Find vintage Steelcase furniture on 1stDibs.
| Average Sold Price |
| $1,503 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
Bauhaus Style Marcel Breuer Designed Cafe Table Model B 10
By Steelcase, Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
Iconic cafe dining table, originally designed by Marcel Breuer at the Bauhaus, this example is a later, but vintage, example produced by Steelcase in the 1950/60's. The table is in v...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Bauhaus Steelcase
Materials
Chrome
Mid Century Charles Pollock Style Steelcase Rolling Office Chair
By Steelcase
Located in Germantown, MD
Mid Century Charles Pollock Style Steelcase Rolling Office Chair. Measures 24" in width, 24" in depth and 36" in height. Seat height is 19" and armheight 27.5". Seat interior width i...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Steelcase
Materials
Chrome
Steelcase Swivel Chairs in the style of Pollack c.1970's 6 available
By Steelcase
Located in New York, NY
Chic, stylish, voguish set of swivel chairs by Steelcase, circa 1970's. These chairs have a vibrant blue upholstered continuous seat and back, a off white plastic shell, and a chro...
Category
1970s American Post-Modern Vintage Steelcase
Materials
Chrome
$350 / item
H 33 in W 22 in D 24 in
Postmodern Sectional Sofa Bench by Steelcase
By Steelcase
Located in New York, NY
Phenomenal sectional sofa, bench, or single chair set made by Steelcase, circa 2002. The pieces have tubular chrome feet, which support a thick and heavy board, to which a thick upho...
Category
Early 2000s American Post-Modern Steelcase
Materials
Chrome
Early Steelcase Wood & Steel Four Drawer File Cabinet, Circa 1920
By Steelcase
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early Steelcase veneered Wood Four Drawer Filing Cabinet. Room Divider. Featuring a refinished warm Brown and Chestnut grained veneered hardwood to top, and drawer fronts, with side ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Steelcase
Materials
Steel, Brass
Steelcase Black Max Stacker Stacking Chairs With Dolly a Set of 25
By Steelcase
Located in Forest Grove, PA
A hard to find set of 25 Steelcase Max Stacker stacking chairs with the original dolly. Black plastic seats and backs and lightweight, chrome pla...
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Steelcase
Materials
Chrome
$3,000 / set
H 20.5 in W 20 in D 21.5 in
1980s Modular Ganging ELYSÉE Sofa Unit Sectional by Steelcase
By Milo Baughman, Thayer Coggin, Steelcase
Located in Bensalem, PA
Great six piece Steelcase modular sectional sofa
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Steelcase
Materials
Upholstery
Modern Steelcase Chrome & Red Swivel Rolling Chair #454 Style Charles Pollock
By Steelcase, Charles Pollock
Located in Topeka, KS
Lovely vintage modern Steelcase style #454 office chair with original red fabric, chrome arms, and chrome shaft with swivel & rolling 5 prong chrome base and created in the style of Charles Pollock for Knoll. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. There is some slight fading in the fabric, otherwise it is in good shape. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th Century.
Not sure there is anything cooler than an awesome RED office chair… Unless it’s an awesome RED office chair by STEELCASE!! This gorgeous Steelcase #454 office rolling & swivel chair is made in the style of the Charles Pollock office chair for Knoll. Comprised of a bucket style swivel seat and covered in its ORIGINAL red upholstery, chrome arms with molded fabric armrests, five prong chrome base with casters, and a chrome tube shaft with swivel. Need a cool chair for your home office? Here you go! Maybe you need a new look in your den or study? You just found it. It is so comfortable and very versatile. Not to mention, it’s made by Steelcase AND in the style of Charles Pollock! Two high quality and exceedingly popular designs. It will be awesome in your mid-century modern setting or equally as nice in an industrial loft or modern country ranch home. WONDERFUL!!!
Steelcase was founded as the Metal Office Furniture Company in 1912 by Peter M. Wege in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Metal Office Furniture Company's first products included fireproof metal safes and four-drawer filing cabinets which Wege invented and manufactured for the Macey Company. In 1914, the company received its first product patent for "The Victor," a fireproof steel wastebasket. The Victor gained popularity due to its light weight achieved through a patented process of bending flat steel at right angles to create boxes, and its ability to prevent fires at a time when smoking was common indoors, particularly in the workplace. In 1915, the company began manufacturing and distributing steel desks and in 1937, the company collaborated with Frank Lloyd Wright on office furniture. The partnership lasted two years and resulted in some of the first modern workstations. The company officially changed its name to Steelcase, Inc. in 1954 and became known as the leader of the furniture industry in the late 1960s due to the volume of its sales and in 1973, the company debuted the Series 9000 furniture line. Steelcase merged three of its subsidiaries, Brayton International, Metro Furniture...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Steelcase
Materials
Metal
$1,495
H 32.5 in W 25.5 in D 24.5 in
Browse all Furniture from Steelcase
Shop NowSteelcase Sale Prices
This data represents a recent sample of sales made on 1stDibs during the specified years. All sales are anonymized.
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| $1,503 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $525-$3,600 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |
Creators Similar to Steelcase
Steelcase furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Steelcase furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Steelcase furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 60 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 3 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Steelcase were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Bernhardt, Lawrence Peabody, and Richard Schultz. Prices for Steelcase furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $100 and can go as high as $16,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,775.
Questions About Steelcase
- Why is Steelcase so expensive?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024There are a few reasons why Steelcase is so expensive. Steelcase was founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1912 as the Metal Office Furniture Company, promoting steel desks and other furnishings as safer, fireproof alternatives to wooden pieces at a time when smoking in the workplace was common. The company invests heavily in research and development to continue to make advancements in ergonomic design that make its furniture more durable and comfortable. Steelcase also uses quality materials that cost more to source. Plus, demand for Steelcase tends to be high, contributing to high price points. Explore a selection of Steelcase furniture on 1stDibs.
- Where is Steelcase headquarters?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024Steelcase headquarters is in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Peter Martin Wege established the furniture company there in 1912. The organization built its current headquarters in the city in 1989. Find a wide range of Steelcase furniture from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Is Coalesse a Steelcase company?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024Yes, Coalesse is a Steelcase company. Known for producing contemporary furniture for the workplace, the brand offers seating, desks, workstations and other furnishings. Coalesse debuted at the NeoCon World's Trade Fair in Chicago, Illinois, in June 2008 and has its headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Coalesse furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024To find out what model your Steelcase is, look for its serial number. If you’re researching a vintage Steelcase chair, for example, you can usually locate it at the bottom of the chair’s seat. The first three characters in the serial number correspond to the Steelcase model number. Once you have this number, you can use trusted online resources to find out the model’s name. Explore a selection of Steelcase chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024Steelcase is a publicly traded company that manufactures furniture. It has its headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Peter Wege founded it as the Metal Office Furniture Company in 1912. Today, Steelcase produces furnishings under a few brand names, including Steelcase, AMQ, Coalesse, Orangebox and Viccarbe. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Steelcase furniture.
- Are Steelcase chairs any good?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Yes, Steelcase chairs are generally considered to be good. In online reviews, many people report that the brand's chairs are durable and capable of holding up to the effects of daily use. Many individuals also tout the adjustability of Steelcase office chairs and describe them as comfortable to use. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Steelcase chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024To tell if a Steelcase chair is real, look for the serial number. You will usually find it located on a label on the underside of the seat. Once you have the number, contact Steelcase customer service to confirm that the chair is authentic. If you have difficulty locating the serial number, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer can assist you with authentication. Find a diverse assortment of Steelcase chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024To tell what model your Steelcase chair is, turn it over and examine the underside of the seat. There, you will typically find the Steelcase name and a long number. The first three digits of this number correspond to your chair's model number. You can use trusted online resources to find out the model name based on this number. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Steelcase chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024Yes, Steelcase makes good office chairs, according to many people who own and love them. Online reviewers rave about the comfortable cushioning and padding that the chairs provide and describe how their adjustability makes it possible to customize the chairs to suit your height and posture. In addition, users often say that the chairs are durable and capable of holding up to regular use in workplaces. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Steelcase office chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024The difference between Steelcase Grade A and Grade B is condition. A previously owned chair that has been inspected by Steelcase and found to be in like-new condition receives the Grade A designation. On the other hand, a piece that has minor issues, such as scuffs on the frame, receives a Grade B classification. Shop a collection of Steelcase chairs on 1stDibs.